Be Right Back, Uninstalling

Hey all... I was wondering if any of you use anything to get tv to your PC.  I used to a while back and I remember the service I used to get the local listings started asking for money, then I moved so i didn't need to use it any more anyway...  Now I'm back on my own and want to set it up again.. Just wondering if any1 can recommend a program for 1 viewing/recording and also the plugin that gives you the local program listings.  (free would be my first choice, so if something costs money I'd need a good argument)

I'm thinking Mozilla might have a program for it?

I use Windows Media Center to watch live TV on my PC. However it requires you to have Cable already.

If you don't need to be a cheap bastard, you could drop $20/yr on Schedules Direct

Alternatively there's also XMLTV (free but not as good from what I've heard from friends using Schedules Direct)

forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

(07-13-2009, 08:15 AM)SAVAGE-0 link Wrote: [ -> ]forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

Yeah now that I notice you just want local channels just hooking a coaxial cable into your computer should work. In my computer I have a PCI card I plug it into, so you may need one.

I'm pretty sure all versions of Vista have it, and XP Professional does also.

Oh, you can also use Media Center as a TIVO. You can rewind live TV (to a certain extent I believe, like the last commercial break), and record it.

(07-13-2009, 08:15 AM)SAVAGE-0 link Wrote: [ -> ]forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

Yea, ultimate does, Ive messed around with it a bit, but I found that if you want to stream it to an Xbox, the number of formats you can use is very restrictive, and I tend to have a large smattering of various kinds (xvid, ogg, divx, mpeg, mov)

(07-13-2009, 11:22 AM)Caffeine link Wrote: [ -> ][quote author=SAVAGE-0 link=topic=3265.msg97165#msg97165 date=1247490956]
forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

Yea, ultimate does, Ive messed around with it a bit, but I found that if you want to stream it to an Xbox, the number of formats you can use is very restrictive, and I tend to have a large smattering of various kinds (xvid, ogg, divx, mpeg, mov)
[/quote]It records in WMV so I'll assume that's the only format it will stream? Maybe mp4 also.

if you have cable, you are going to need a TV tuner card to input coax
that said, you're going to need some sort of tuner attached to your PC no matter what service you use

no yea I've had a hauppage card for a few years now ... just havent used it in over 18 months or so.  New OS so none of the old programs are installed - Once I hook it all up i'll let ppl know how it's going - if you're interested (even if you're not I guess =P)

(07-13-2009, 11:22 AM)Caffeine link Wrote: [ -> ][quote author=SAVAGE-0 link=topic=3265.msg97165#msg97165 date=1247490956]
forgot about media center... doesnt vista ultimate have media center built in? I'll have to look into that

edit:
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows...33.mspx#EO  thanks for the reminder I'll let you know how it works, but seems pretty solid

Yea, ultimate does, Ive messed around with it a bit, but I found that if you want to stream it to an Xbox, the number of formats you can use is very restrictive, and I tend to have a large smattering of various kinds (xvid, ogg, divx, mpeg, mov)
[/quote]

lies, all lies and slander.  i have a media pc with wmc and it handles all those formats and many more.  Here's how to order.

first you need a codec pack that will handle whatever thing you're going to throw at it, i forget what im using currently.

then this shit:

    * Click the + sign next to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT , you should now see a bunch of file extensions.
    * Navigate to the file type that you want to view in WMC (if it is not there, post a comment and i will add a note about adding new keys)
    * Once you find the file type that you want to play, click on its folder icon.
    * Right click anywhere in the right content box and select New > String Value
    * Name this value Content Type, press enter, and then double click on it.
    * In the box labeled Value data:, enter in video/[type] - type being the file extension. So for .mkv it would be video/mkv
    * Click Ok
    * Now add another String value and name it PerceivedType
    * Give this string the value of video

(07-22-2009, 08:12 AM)Ertai link Wrote: [ -> ]lies, all lies and slander.  i have a media pc with wmc and it handles all those formats and many more.  Here's how to order.

first you need a codec pack that will handle whatever thing you're going to throw at it, i forget what im using currently.

then this shit:

    * Click the + sign next to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT , you should now see a bunch of file extensions.
    * Navigate to the file type that you want to view in WMC (if it is not there, post a comment and i will add a note about adding new keys)
    * Once you find the file type that you want to play, click on its folder icon.
    * Right click anywhere in the right content box and select New > String Value
    * Name this value Content Type, press enter, and then double click on it.
    * In the box labeled Value data:, enter in video/[type] - type being the file extension. So for .mkv it would be video/mkv
    * Click Ok
    * Now add another String value and name it PerceivedType
    * Give this string the value of video

you forgot the bit about "regedit" or whatever it's named

tho knowing how inept some people are it's probably for the best

Figured I'd update with the success story finally... I didnt have the power adapter bc the dude who moved out of the apt. took it with him, so i finally for a new one from the comcast store and set it up... media center is quite easy and works well enough for all i need... Built in Guide, so I can set it to record shows and have it change channels with the IR blaster.  I've got a big moniter, so the plan was to have that instead of a TV - not for xbox or anything like that. 

So yea.. it works great - let me know if you want to know more... very easy set up and pretty cheap

(07-22-2009, 10:03 AM)CopulatingDuck link Wrote: [ -> ][quote author=Ertai link=topic=3265.msg99923#msg99923 date=1248268366]
lies, all lies and slander.  i have a media pc with wmc and it handles all those formats and many more.  Here's how to order.

first you need a codec pack that will handle whatever thing you're going to throw at it, i forget what im using currently.

then this shit:

    * Click the + sign next to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT , you should now see a bunch of file extensions.
    * Navigate to the file type that you want to view in WMC (if it is not there, post a comment and i will add a note about adding new keys)
    * Once you find the file type that you want to play, click on its folder icon.
    * Right click anywhere in the right content box and select New > String Value
    * Name this value Content Type, press enter, and then double click on it.
    * In the box labeled Value data:, enter in video/[type] - type being the file extension. So for .mkv it would be video/mkv
    * Click Ok
    * Now add another String value and name it PerceivedType
    * Give this string the value of video

you forgot the bit about "regedit" or whatever it's named

tho knowing how inept some people are it's probably for the best
[/quote]

Meh, if they are messing with media center they already know about regedit.